Irv Smith Jr. Could Soon Have New NFL Home
Remember the Irv Smith Jr. era in Minnesota? It could resume in New England.
Irv Smith Jr. Could Soon Have New NFL Home
After getting dropped by the Kansas City Chiefs during roster shavedowns two weeks ago, Smith Jr. worked out for the New England Patriots this week, a signal that a contract could be on the way.
KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweeted Monday, “Patriots worked out Zaire Mitchell-Paden and Irv Smith.”
If the audition is deemed successful by New England’s brass, Smith Jr. would join this TE room in Foxborough:
- Hunter Henry
- Austin Hooper
- Jaheim Bell
- Mitchell Wilcox (Practice Squad)
Smith Jr., 26, was drafted by the Vikings in the 2nd Round of the 2019 NFL Draft and possessed gobs of upside during his entire Minnesota tenure. But the club traded for T.J. Hockenson in November 2022, spelling the beginning of the end to Smith’s career in purple.
He then latched onto the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2023 offseason, on deck for a career reclamation — that never happened. Smith Jr. tallied 18 catches for 115 yards in 12 games, also known as TE4 numbers. Chiefs fans hoped his potential could be unlocked with the NFL’s best player, Patrick Mahomes, but that probably would’ve happened in 2023 with Joe Burrow and friends. Or any season with the Vikings.
Smith Jr. was a part of the Vikings offense for four years but was overshadowed by veteran TE1 Kyle Rudolph in 2019 and 2020 and encountered injuries in 2021 and 2022. Since the start of 2019, Smith has registered 109 receptions on 152 targets for 973 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s averaged 19.8 receiving yards per game and missed 44% of all Vikings games due to injury. When he played, Smith made a difference at times but also experienced a couple of crucial dropped passes.
He suffered a high ankle sprain in October 2022 versus the Arizona Cardinals, an injury sidelining him for about two months. Soon after, the Vikings traded for the aforementioned Hockenson, and the former Detroit Lion — beyond the shadow of a doubt — made the TE1 job his own.
Kansas City signed Smith Jr. in March during the first wave of 2024 free agency, an indicator that the Super Bowl champs valued him. Fast-forward to September, and he’s once again seeking employment, which could materialize in New England.
The Patriots shockingly chipped off the Cincinnati Bengals on the road in Week 1, 16-10, an embarrassing showing for Joe Burrow’s team, one considered a Super Bowl contender by most. New England played a defensive brand of football that resulted in the upset.
Smith Jr. could also join the Patriots’ practice squad.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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